A loss in France to the New Orleans Saints (2-5) would’ve resulted in all of Steelers Nation screaming “sacré bleu!”

But the quarterback, inside linebackers and running backs took care of that, and the Steelers (5-2) flew home with a third straight win after a 16-10 victory in Paris.

In this week’s “Feats of Strength,” we look at how the Steelers enjoyed a European vacation for a second consecutive season.

Feats of Strength

Payton in Paris: Payton Wilson’s third-quarter interception was the biggest play of the game.

The Saints were driving to potentially take a 17-13 lead, but Wilson’s diving interception at the 11-yard line bailed out a Steelers defense that New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough was picking apart.

Payton Wilson anticipates the pass perfectly and picks off Shough in the red zone

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Wilson’s snag came against a New Orleans team that started the day with 84.2% (second in the NFL) red-zone efficiency.

At one point on that drive — which was 14 plays long before the turnover — Shough was up to 28 passes. He had completed 22 of them. The Steelers responded with a 14-play drive of their own. It ended with a Chris Boswell field goal, extending the Steelers’ lead to 16-10.

Rodgers on the run: Rodgers showed veteran pocket command on several occasions, including a 51-yard bomb to DK Metcalf.

His nimble footwork was also on display during a crucial third-down connection with Brandon Smith.

DOT ???? @AaronRodgers12 https://t.co/J4OiXCdKvQ

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A third-down run for Rodgers with under three minutes remaining also, essentially, iced the game.

RODGERS TAKES IT HIMSELF FOR THE FIRST DOWN

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Rodgers risked a dangerous sack on that play, which would’ve made life difficult for Boswell, just like last week in Tampa, but he got the yardage needed to move the chains.

Queen for a day: Wilson’s partner at inside linebacker, Patrick Queen, had a really strong game.

Queen has been the subject of much ire on social media in recent weeks. But he flashed on numerous occasions Sunday in France.

His third-down sack of Shough stopped a fourth-quarter drive when New Orleans was attempting to take a 17-16 lead.

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Queen ended the day with 10 tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and several big hits on Saints ball carriers.

Proper orientation: The Steelers started the game with an excellent drive. Coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio had their heads in the right place.

The Saints’ run defense stinks. So the Steelers went with their best player over the last month, Jaylen Warren.

McCarthy dialed up four straight touches for Warren out of the gate and moved the Steelers from their own 39-yard line to the New Orleans 15. But that’s where the drive stalled.

The Steelers settled for a field goal after a missed pass interference call when DK Metcalf had his breastplate pulled. The officials didn’t drop a flag.

The Steelers used a sixth offensive lineman extensively for the first time Sunday. They ended up with 148 yards on the ground and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Warren had 101 on the ground. Rico Dowdle had 86 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches.

A little love: A stick tap to Boswell, Cam Johnston, Christian Kuntz and the rest of the special teams for running on the field and executing a field goal at the end of the first half with a rolling clock.

That’s the second straight week when Rodgers took a third-down sack when he absolutely shouldn’t have. He did the same thing in Tampa, turning a 49-yard field-goal attempt into a 58-yarder.

Luckily for the Steelers, Boswell made that one as he did in Paris.

Airing of Grievances

Quick giveback: Lousy job by the special teams and defense after Darnell Washington’s second-quarter touchdown.

New Orleans popped a 49-yard return on the ensuing kick by Barion Brown. Then New Orleans embarked on a 12-play, 52-yard drive that lasted five minutes.

Shough hit Devaughn Vele for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal, tying the score 10-10.

Shough – Vele: TOUCHDOWN SAINTS!

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— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 25, 2026

That was one of two fourth-down conversions on the drive. The defense also allowed a third-and-5. Any momentum seized by the Steelers after Washington scored was instantly negated.

Mad Mason: Mason McCormick took an awful penalty late in the second quarter.

With 54 seconds left, Rodgers converted a third-and-10 on a 20-yard completion to Germie Bernard. After some tough yards after the catch, Bernard dragged a host of tacklers to the New Orleans 14.

It would’ve been first-and-10 there with 43 seconds left, and the Steelers could’ve taken a stab or two at the end zone.

Instead, McCormick tried to clean off a pile that didn’t need any cleaning. No one was messing with Bernard after the tackle, and McCormick came flying in anyway. He jumped on the pile and got a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

So the Steelers got the first down. But the ball came all the way back to the Saints’ 29-yard line, and Pittsburgh had to burn a timeout. Plus, the team had to settle for a Boswell field goal to make it 13-10 at halftime.

Bad timing: Rodgers was sacked three times. All three ended drives on third down.

Rodgers’ gutsy fourth-quarter scramble was risky because he dropped back to the New Orleans’ 45-yard line. A fourth sack there would’ve resulted in a punt or a field-goal attempt of roughly 60 yards.

Rodgers’ protection wasn’t bad for the most part. He was hit only two more times beyond the sacks over 34 dropbacks.

But the sacks that happened were really ill-timed.